A local man is claiming he saw a ghost and has photos that he believes proves that something otherworldly was floating around his apartment early Friday morning.

Michael Abbruzese, 40, of 80 Old State Road was packing for an upcoming cruise at approximately 3 a.m. on Friday when he began to take photos of his new apartment to show his family members.

He was listening to a song played at his father's funeral in 2003 called "Time to Say Goodbye" by famed Italian singer Andrea Boccelli when he snapped a shot that he says changed his life.

Abbruzese took a simple photo of the hallway in his apartment and, when he looked at the screen on his digital camera, he found that the image was distorted with a number of swirling lights that he believes is his father's essence in the room.

"I looked at them and just saw white ... I've been feeling his presence. He has been trying to send me a message," said Abbruzese.

His father, Michael Abbruzese Sr., died on Jan. 25, 2003.

The Belmont man said he saw no such lights in the hall when he was taking the picture, but they appeared in the photo and he believes the playing of the song during the time they were taken is no coincidence.

Boccelli's lyrics read, "Yes, I know there is no light in a room" and go on to say that "show everyone my heart, which you set alight."

"I see faces in the picture," said Abbruzese.

Abbruzese said he has always believed in spirits, but said he has never seen one.

He admitted that some might doubt what his camera captured.

"Someone said it's me smoking cigarettes, [but] that's one hell of a cigarette," said Abbruzese.

His roommate, Matt Felton, said he certainly was unnerved by what the camera captured.

"He wouldn't go back to bed until it was light out," said Abbruzese with a laugh.

When asked what he thought the images meant, Abbruzese responded, "That's my dad ... he's talking to me."